When people use Facebook the right way, it can be magic. There are those that post information and resources that we can all use, which helps. There can be the posts that connect you with new adventures. There are also those that bring us all closer together. One friend who has been going through some tough health issues has kept us all up to date through Facebook.

Then there are the posts that are random, like funny You Tube videos. But as the co-host of a parenting show the ones that always get me are the parenting posts. Just the other day I came across two women who had similar experiences and shared them with everyone. I wanted to share them with you, because I had to wipe away tears…of laughter.

The first one wrote, “I was just told by my 3 year old as he drank out of his sippy cup… “It peed in my mouth! Ha, Ha, ha!”

I didn’t think that could be topped until I read the next post by a friend and another mother.

Yesterday, I walked topless from my bedroom to my bathroom and my two year old said, “Mom, you have no shirt, your milk will fall out!”

Our children are precious. Maybe you don’t want to share everything on Facebook or Twitter or in social media, but make sure you save moments like these. When they have kids of their own, they will appreciate the beautiful humor in this. Ladies thank you for sharing and for allowing me to post this on our web site.

Comment below or call and leave a message at 503-746-8456.

Is your kid smart? What can you as a parent do to make sure your child gets the best education possible? Start by reading Linda Morgan’s new book, Beyond Smart: Boosting your child’s social, emotional and academic potential. You want insights and tools how to help your child achieve their greatest success and make it easy on yourself. Linda broke it down for all aged children and parents. Todd and Laura even found out what to do since they have messed up already.

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We asked and the ideas are pouring in. Thank you. The one that surprised me is using Cetaphil. Laura uses that for her face washing. I had no idea it was good for getting rid of Lice. See here for full instructions. There is also the Licemeister. It looks like the item that came with the kit I bought at New Seasons, but some people swear by this thing. MOre than anything else, I think we should all start using more Tea Tree Oil. Another item some swear by and Laura and I can testify for is Dessert Essence Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner.

That’s what I have so far. If you have another suggestion, reply or Tweet (parentingunplug) or send us a note on Facebook. In the meantime, we will keep on killing those little buggers.

You won’t believe why Todd had to give props to Spongebob Squarepants. He also told you how you could win tickets to the new Documentary “Babies” this weekend. Laura shared a perfect way to make tiles of your kids hands and feet. Todd’s Facebook page has started talking to him, Obama better do something about this and the B52′s at the Zoo?

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Over the weekend, Connor, lost his first tooth. I was very excited until I figured out, I had to leave something under his pillow from the tooth fairy. Since it was my first time, I figured I would reach out to other parents who had already dealt with the inflation costs of being the Tooth Fairy. I mean, I used to get a quarter back in the early 70′s. Maybe it was a nickel and it just looked like a quarter. I was small.

Anyway, the responses I got were hilarious. I posted it on my Facebook page. Here they are.

1-We grant options in gDiapers…

2-It’s still a quarter at my house…My husband and I do not believe in paying out the “nose” for normal bodily functions…

3-We give 50 cents/tooth.

4-Inflation must be insane in Woodway, it’s about 1 per tooth $20 for the ones pulled out by the DDS or ortho

5-Yep, sounds about right. We give two bucks per tooth: one Susan B. Anthony dollar and one Sacagawea dollar. My daughter thinks they are REALLY cool.

6-One paper dollar, 1 quarter, 1 dime, 1 nickel, 1 penny = our leave for each tooth. Why? Who knows – just tradition since the first one lost the first tooth. Guess I couldn’t decide that first time and so left one of everything – doomed myself to every tooth thereafter

7-Don’t worry, pretty soon 2 bucks will be worth a quarter!

8-$1 coin usually. A $2 bill and 3 different dollar coins for the three teeth pulled on one day. I think the molar might have brought $2 because my son pointed out it was “so big.”

9-don’t fall for the tooth fairy inflation…I think a buck is plenty!

There were more responses.

10-My kid gets $5 from me and $10 from my ex…he’ll be able to pay for books at college.

11-Take the $2 and like it!  $2 is a bargain, Wait til they get older. It will be a lot more than $1 or $2 bucks. Try $5 to $10

12-But what is a 1976 quarter worth in today’s dollars?

We did wind up giving a dollar. But I found it rather hilarious and then upsetting (because I was a second child) that Laura (a first child) took four quarters out our second child’s piggy bank and put it under Connor’s pillow. She promised me that she would replace the money.

How much did  you give your child for their baby teeth? Oh and Mom, if you are reading this, how much did you give me?

I didn’t write much of this, it is taken off the Barnes & Noble page and then from a review. I know, kind of cheap, but Dr. Kastner is going to be on our show and I have read her book. I feel exactly the same way the reviewer does. This is a great book. The goal of Laura (my wife) and me is to give you resources to be the best parent you can be. I’m telling you, this is a HUGE one. 

Moms and Dads of tweens and teens – new brain research offers new insight into the best way to connect w/them. Noted teen expert Dr. Laura Kastner shows parents how to stay calm and cool-headed while dealing with hot-button issues everything from rude attitude and lying to sex and substance use — with clear, easy-to-follow suggestions for setting limits while maintaining a close and loving relationship. Find out why Dr. T. Berry Brazelton calls Getting to Calm required reading for any parent who struggles with their teen! 

This book, is that it works on your reaction to your child’s behaviour – truly, the only thing you can control. When your attitude and response is in check, your tween/teen will react accordingly and set the stage for a much more tolerable adolescence. Most likely, the ride through the teen years won’t be bump-free, but with this book, at least you’ll survive without too many bruises.

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I have been waiting for this: the one question that seemed to really spark our listeners. Maya Frost, author of The New Global Student, really hit it on the head when she said that all people want to live in a foreign country, but not everyone can do it. She doesn’t mean the ability, she means the “cohunes” to do it and it takes some. 

So I posed the question to my Facebook Friends, “Tell me why you couldn’t move abroad in 12 months? What are the reasons you could move your family to another country? If you could, which country would it be?” Here are some of the answers and fortunately some came from those that have made the move…

1- (Man)Money. Not easy to find a job abroad especially if you’re not fluent in language used. I would love to live with the family in Spain one day, but would settle for England.

2- (Man) We did move and are still surviving, though barely!! I think it’s more of a mind game if anything. Move somewhere where you know the kids will get spoiled by the locals and the locals appreciate you being there, otherwise could be difficult. Children can adapt to culture and language better than adults I believe, so the real stress is on the parents.

3-(Woman) I would love to move back to Germany for a year, but language is a problem (for hubby, not for me). Trying to find jobs in the same country for two working parents who care about their callings (teaching and architecture, respectively) would be a challenge. If we did pursue it, I would probably want to wait for out son Teo to be a little older, maybe kindergarten age at least, so he might remember the experience a little more vividly than he would now at just shy of 2. Of course, there’s always Canada – Dad is a Canuck and Teo’s a dualieJ  Seems like, realistically, on of us would have to take a sabbatical to make it work , assuming the other parent had a job offer.

4-(Woman) Family and friends. We’re entrenched in our community and it would be hard to leave, especially for the kids, even for just a short time. But if we were to move it would probably be France, England, or Australia because I don’t see myself learning a third language any time soon…

5-(Woman) Just hold your breath, hold hands and take the plunge! We did it – we love it. We are in the UK, so the kids have taken on a new culture and new accent, but not a new language. The age of the kids was a key factor. We moved when they were 5 and 2. Another plus is a career that can cross borders, such as technology or the arts. If we were really brave, we would have gone somewhere beyond Western Europe. I would like to live in Japan. To be continued.

6- (Woman) Being half-Brit (though for inane reasons not a dual citizen), I’d love to move to the UK. Ireland’s been calling for years. Even if my husband was willing, we couldn’t move yet though because of custody arrangements with my step-daughters’ birth mom. The earliest window would be in 8 more years, once both girls are in college. My husband and I have talked about dusting off our German for a potential move there, too.

Great points made by all. Why you couldn’t move abroad in 12 months? Don’t be shy? It’s not like I am asking you to move. Just tell me why you couldn’t? My reason? Our kids are too young, 5 and 2, but as you saw, one woman did it just fine, though the UK speaks English. I want to build our company and then when it starts to really run itself, Laura, the kids and I take off. Where? Who knows, we might just have to spin the globe and see.